Does Your Baby’s Rice Cereal Contain High Levels of Arsenic?

Anyone who has or had a young child knows that infant rice cereal is one of the most common first foods out there. Not only is it a simple way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into a child’s diet early on, but the cereal itself is easy to digest and typically safe for kids prone to food allergies. Also, it’s full of vital vitamins and nutrients to help a baby’s body and brain grow, or so we thought. Unfortunately, a study was recently conducted that discovered that infant rice cereal actually contains high levels of arsenic, and “ little has been done to reduce the amount of arsenic found in” the popular cereal.

Anyone who has or had a young child knows that infant rice cereal is one of the most common first foods out there. Not only is it a simple way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into a child’s diet early on, but the cereal itself is easy to digest and typically safe for kids prone to food allergies. Also, it’s full of vital vitamins and nutrients to help a baby’s body and brain grow, or so we thought. Unfortunately, a study was recently conducted that discovered that infant rice cereal actually contains high levels of arsenic, and “ little has been done to reduce the amount of arsenic found in” the popular cereal.

So what kind of brands should parents and caregivers be on the lookout for? Well, while there are many brands out there on store shelves, the study concluded that the following have the highest arsenic content: Beech-Nut, Gerber, BioKinetics, Earth’s Best, Nestle and Little Duck Organics.

When discussing how the government should respond to reports of high arsenic levels in baby cereal, the study stated:

“Widespread concern and public pressure – combined with growing science on arsenic’s toxicity at low doses – should have spurred the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the cereal industry to take high-arsenic cereals off store shelves. It hasn’t happened…[The] FDA is, in a word, stalled. More than a year after issuing its 2016 draft guidance to cereal makers – the culmination of four years of assessment – FDA is falling short of protecting infants. It has not set a final limit for arsenic in rice cereal…Arsenic is strictly regulated in drinking water, but is legal in any amount in infant rice cereal. It is a potent human carcinogen and a neurotoxin shown to permanently reduce children’s IQ.”

Despite the study’s call to action for something to be done about the cereal, some brands mentioned in the study have pushed back against the findings and accusations that their products are unsafe. For example, a Gerber spokesperson issued a statement saying “their rice cereals are safe to eat.” The company also said:

“We want to reassure parents that Gerber rice cereals are safe. Every ingredient we use in our baby foods—rice included—must meet our rigorous standards, which align with the best available government guidance. We also have our own standards for safety and quality that go beyond government requirements.”

About Brianna Smith

Brianna Smith is a freelance writer and editor in Southwest Michigan. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Brianna has a passion for politics, social issues, education, science, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the simple life with her husband, daughter, and son.

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